Vehicle cargo lift

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a vehicle cargo lift having a bed ( 9 ) having posts ( 10 ) parallel to each other extending from the bed ( 9 ), a support frame ( 2 ) having two opposed side frames forming a well therebetween to accommodate the bed ( 9 ), at least one hollow elongated member ( 7 ) located in each side frame, drive devices ( 8 ) to move the bed ( 9 ) between a raised transport position and a ground engaging loading positions such that the bed ( 9 ) retains substantially the same orientation throughout its movement between the transport position and the loading position with the hollow elongated members ( 7 ) being telescopically engaged with respective posts ( 10 ) of the bed ( 9 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an attachment which can be fitted to anexisting vehicle, either powered or non powered, or a vehicle chassis,said attachment having a tray which is adapted to be raised and loweredfrom a transport position to a ground engaging loading position.

Standard vehicles such as vans and trucks have been used for thetransportation of cargo. However, because of the height of the tray orbed above the ground, loading, unloading and positioning of cargo can bedifficult, especially with heavy objects.

Forklifts and ramps have been used. But these have their disadvantagessuch as costs and availability at sites.

Attempts have been made to overcome these problems by providing amodified U-shaped chassis with the rear wheels attached by means of stubaxles, and an adjustable tray connected by parallelogram linkagesbetween the arms of the chassis, to be raised and lowered between aground engaging loading position and a raised transport position.Further attempts have used a modified U-shaped chassis with the rearwheels attached by means of stub axles, and a tilting tray connectedbetween the arms of the chassis.

These attempts require an completely modified chassis with the resultantcosts. With some vehicles and usage such an expense cannot be justified.

Other attempts to overcome this problem involve the use of liftingtailgates. However these are not always suitable because of the methodof attachment and the operation of the tailgate external of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to ameliorate these problems by providing avehicle cargo lift comprising:

a bed having posts parallel to each other extending from said bed;

a support frame adapted to be connected to a vehicle, said support framecomprising two opposed side frames forming a well therebetween toaccommodate the bed;

at least one elongated member located in each side frame; and

drive means to move said bed between a raised transport position, and aground engaging loading position such that the bed retains substantiallythe same orientation throughout its movement between said transportposition and said loading position, with said elongated members beingtelescopically engaged with respective posts of the bed.

In another form the invention comprises a combined tray and vehiclecargo lift for fitting to the chassis of a vehicle behind the cab,comprising:

a tray adapted to be fitted onto a standard chassis of a vehicle;

a support frame; having a front frame, two opposed side frames and aroof frame; extending over the tray;

a bed having posts parallel to each other extending from said bed;

a rear portion of the frame having a well formed therebetween, so as toaccommodate the bed;

at least one elongated member extending from each side frame of the rearportion of the frame; and

drive means to move said bed between a raised transport position and aground engaging loading position such that the bed retains substantiallythe same orientation throughout its movement between said transportposition and said loading position, with said elongated members beingtelescopically engaged with respective posts of the bed.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a perspective exploded view of acombined tray and cargo lift, without the over frame, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the combined tray and cargo liftaccording to one embodiment of the present invention; with the lift inthe transport stage; and

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the combined tray and cargo liftaccording to one embodiment of the present invention; as shown in FIG.2, with the lift in the loading stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention is show in FIGS. 1-3 of theaccompanying drawings, in which a combined tray and cargo lift isadapted to fit on a standard chassis (not shown).

The tray (1) and frame (2) are adapted to fit and be secured to astandard chassis (14) of a vehicle. The tray (1) is affixed to thenormal connection points of a full rear axle assembly chassis (14), assupplied, by example, by Toyota.

In the embodiment as shown, the tray (1) is secured to the standardchassis (14) of a vehicle having a full rear axle, no modifications of astructural nature are required to the chassis. Depending upon theconfiguration of chassis, the tray and combination lift will provide acheap and quick means of providing a cargo lift to the chassis of avehicle than is presently available.

The embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, comprises a bottom frame (3)which is affixed to a standard chassis of a vehicle, whether powered ornon powered, at any suitable points (4). The tray (1) has two rollers(5), which assist the movement of cargo onto the tray (1).

A support frame (2) is affixed to the tray (1). Extending beyond therear of the tray (1), is lift frame (6), which is fully supported by thesupport frame (2). Each side of the lift frame (6) has a hollow member(7) and drive means (8) in this case several hydraulic rams, which areconnected to the lift platform (9), as shown in FIG. 3.

The lift platform (9) has a post (10) on each side, which telescopicallyengages with the respective hollow member (7), so as to guide the liftplatform (9) during its movements. Any suitable drive means could beused, but preferably two hydraulic rams (12) are used on each side ofthe lift platform (9), with the ram (12) extending through the bottomframe member (13). The lift frame (6) is fully supported by the supportframe (2) providing a stable and fully supported structure.

In use, the lift platform (9) is lowered by the drive means (hydraulicrams) (8) to the ground engaging loading position, and the cargo movedonto the lift platform (9). To assist in the movement of the cargo, aroller (5) is located on the lift platform (9). The platform (9) is thenraised, to the height of the tray (1), as shown in FIG. 2, and the cargomoved onto the tray (1). If required the lift platform (9) could be thenraised slightly above the height of the tray (1), to prevent backwardmovement of cargo. A tailgate/ramp (15) could be connected to the rearend of the lift platform (9), as shown in FIGS. 2 & 3. Further sidepanels (11) could be hingedly connected to the tray (1) to allow accessto the side of the tray (1).

Whilst the present invention has been shown in a preferred embodimentthere are many variations possible which would fall within the scope andthe spirit of the present invention. The drive means could be wormdrives or pneumatically driven rams. The post on the lift platform couldbe located on the centre of the platform side between two lifting ramsor only one lifting ram per side could be used with any number of posts.Further the lift support could be a separate structure which is attachedto an existing tray.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications andalterations could be carried out to the above described inventionwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A vehicle cargo lift for use with a vehicle, the vehiclecargo lift comprising a lift platform having a front edge and a rearedge, said lift platform being adapted for being moved between a raisedtransport position and a ground engaging loading position; a supportframe adapted for attachment to the vehicle, said support frameincluding a tray having a rear edge, said support frame furtherincluding a pair of bottom rails extending rearwardly and in parallelfrom either side of said rear edge of said tray, said pair of bottomrails defining a well therebetween so as to accommodate said liftplatform, said tray forming a supporting surface for cargo carried onthe vehicle, said rear edge of said tray being adjacent to said frontedge of said lift platform when said lift platform is moved to saidraised transport position; a pair of posts extending perpendicularlyfrom either side of said lift platform, each of said posts passingthrough a hole in a respective one of said pair of bottom rails tothereby guide said lift platform in upward and downward movement; a reararch frame spanning said well, said rear arch frame including at leastone elongated member extending substantially perpendicularly upward fromeach of said pair of bottom rails; at least one pair of elongatedmembers extending parallel to said pair of bottom rails from said reararch frame; and drive means to move said lift platform between saidraised transport position and said ground engaging loading position suchthat said lift platform retains substantially the same orientationthroughout its movement between said transport position and said loadingposition, said drive means being supported by said pair of bottom railsand said pair of elongated members extending parallel to said pair ofbottom rails.
 2. A vehicle cargo lift according to claim 1, wherein saidsupport frame further comprises a front arch frame joined to said reararch frame by a roof frame.
 3. A vehicle cargo lift according to claim2, wherein said drive means extends through said pair of bottom rails toengage said lift platform.
 4. A vehicle cargo lift according to claim 3,wherein said drive means comprises hydraulic cylinders.
 5. A vehiclecargo lift according to claim 4, wherein said hydraulic cylindersincludes two hydraulic cylinders on each side of said lift platform. 6.A vehicle cargo lift according to claim 5, wherein said lift platformfurther includes at least one transversely extending roller to assistthe movement of cargo therealong.
 7. A vehicle cargo lift according toclaim 6, wherein said lift platform further includes a tailgate whichcan be closed when said lift platform further is in its transportposition.
 8. A combined tray and vehicle cargo lift for use with avehicle, the vehicle having a chassis and a cab, the combined tray andvehicle cargo lift comprising: a tray adapted to be fitted onto thechassis of the vehicle, and having a front portion located adjacent thecab of the vehicle and a rear portion; a support frame having a frontarch frame, a rear arch frame, a roof frame extending between said frontand rear arch frames and over said tray, and two opposed side frames,each of said side frames including a bottom rail and an elongated memberextending parallel to said bottom rail; a lift platform having postsparallel to each other extending upward from said lift platform, each ofsaid posts extending through a respective hole formed in said bottomrail of a respective one of said side frames; said side frames defininga well to accommodate said lift platform; said rear arch frame includinga pair of elongated members extending between each said bottom rail andsaid roof frame on either side of said well; and drive means to movesaid lift platform between a raised transport position and a groundengaging loading position such that said lift platform retainssubstantially the same orientation throughout its movement between saidtransport position and said loading position, with each of saidelongated members extending between each said bottom rail and said roofframe being telescopically engaged with a respective one of said postsof said lift platform, said drive means being supported by said bottomrails and said elongated member parallel to said bottom rail of each ofsaid side frames.
 9. A combined tray and cargo lift according to claim8, wherein said drive means extend through said bottom rail to engagesaid lift platform.
 10. A combined tray and cargo lift according toclaim 9, wherein said drive means comprises hydraulic cylinders.
 11. Acombined tray and cargo lift according to claim 10, wherein saidhydraulic cylinders includes two hydraulic cylinders on each side ofsaid lift platform.
 12. A combined tray and cargo lift according toclaim 11, wherein said tray and said lift platform have transverselyextending rollers to assist the movement of cargo therealong.
 13. Acombined tray and cargo lift according to claim 12, wherein said liftplatform has a tailgate which can be closed when said lift platform isin its transport position.
 14. A combined tray and cargo lift accordingto claim 13, wherein said tray has a top surface, said lift platform inits transport position sits above said top surface of said tray.